Dry-pipe valve



E. E. CLARK.

DRY HPE VALVE.

APPucAnou mu) SEPT. 25. mm.

Patented June 22, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Invenror. tlzra L (Hark E. E. CLARK.

DRY PIPE VALVE.

' APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 25, i919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Fig. 2.

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ar-1;; I6 \9 "ciijtrr Invenror.

Ezro E. Clark Atlys E. E. CLARK.

DRY PIPE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 191% 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.-

Fig. 3.

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UNITED STATES EZRA E. CLARK, 0F NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRY-PIPE VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed September 25, 1919. Serial No. 326,178.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that I, EZRA E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newtonville, count of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, an whose post-oilice address is 150 Otis street, Newtonville, Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Dry-Pipe Valves, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification,like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to novel improve ments in dr ipe valves.

Valves of tliis general type are employed in automatic sprinkler systems and include a water valve and an air valve and are so constructed that the pressure of the air confined in the Sprinkler system will hold closed the water valve against the pressure of the water in the su ply pipe. hese dry pipe valves are furt er so constructed that a lesser air pressure will hold the water valve closed a ainst a greater water pressure.

The 0 ject of the present invention is to provide a dry pipe valve of this type which will be compact, reliable positive in its action, durable, and readily capable of commercial manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the air valve and water valve are combined in a single valve structure supported and guided by a link structure and a guideway so arranged that the valve structure when the valves open will move to a position entirely at one slde of the water way leaving the waterway opened and unobstructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a construction in which the valve structure will be guided in its closing movement to insure the accurate positioning of the valves in closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a construction in which the move ment of the valve structure will not be impeded or interfered with by the action of corrosion or the presence of foreign substances in the valve casing.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the claims;

The drawin illustrate a preferred embodiment of t e invention but it is to be understood that this illustration is not re strictive but that various changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section of the drypipe valve.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking at the right of Fig. 1 and partially in vertical cross section taken on the line 52-43 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in central vertical section. partially broken away, of the dry pipe valve showing another form and position of link structure.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing in plan view the link structure shown in Fig. 3.

The casing of the valve incloses the entire mechanism of the valve. At its upper end it is flanged at 1 for connection to the piping system and provided with the outlet 2; at its lower end it is similarly flanged at 3 and provided with an inlet 4. The inlet 4 and outlet 2 are in alinement so that the water in its passage through the valve casing passes in a direct line and the entire waterway through the valve from the inlet to the outlet is, when the valves are open, maintained free and unobstructed.

At one side of the casing a flanged opening 5 is provided, having a removable cover 6, thus providing an opening or hand hole 2' through which access may he had for setting and re-setting the mechanism of the valve. The casing is also formed to present at one side of thewaterway a section to rcceive the valve structure when in open posi tion and to provide for the mounting of the guideway by which the valve structure is guided to open position. This section 8 of the casing 18 preferably divided into two parts, one of which is formed integrally with the body of the casing and the other of which is formed to present a range-snide part or cover 9 shown as of generally lii'iillsiilufl ical shape, these arts being flanged and bolted together. of advanta e in the assembling of tin llii'lfllai nism of the valve and also in repairing or replacing the parts.

At the opposite side the casing also formed as at 10 to provide for the drip valve- The Wall of the inlet of the valve casing extends upwardly in cylindrical form 11 into the body of the casing and is pro ferahly provided with a separate cylindrical sci:- tio 12 of bronze or teri l screwed into place in the section 11 and presenting at its upper edge the water his rcmovahlc cover 9 is other noncorrodible mavalve seat 13. The water valve 14 when in closed posi ion is preferably arranged at right angles to the inlet opening and seats squarely upon the water valve seat 13.

The air valve which in order to secure the required differential in pressure is of larger area than the water valve is in this construction preferably arranged obliquely or at an inclination to the water valve. This arrangement assists in securing the desired compact relation of the parts. The air valve seat 15 is constituted as the flat face of a ring seated in an annular flange 17 formed on the inside of the casing surrounding the water inlet. The air valve 18 at its perimeter is provided with the usual circunifercntially projecting flap or ring washer 19 of a suitahle flexible material such as rubber. This flap is secured to the air valve by means of the clamping ring 20. When the air valve is closed the flap 19 is therefore yieldingly held against the valve seat 15 and thus insures an air tight juncture.

The air valve and water valve are socured together to form a. single valve structure and this is effected in such a way as to enable both valves to seat accurately and snugly upon their respective valve seats. For this purpose the air valve is shown as provided with a connecting bolt 21 having a head 22 of spherical shape. The head 22 fits against a seat in the water valve of spherical shape and the two valves are held together by a ring mem er 23 screw threaded to the water valve and engaging the upper edge of the head 22.

he air valve when closed divides the interior of the casing into two chambers. The upper of these=chambers is subject to the air pressure. This air pressure is usually transmitted through a body of water substantially fillin this air chamber, and thus sealing the air valve a. ainst leakage. The lower or neutral chamber 24 is normally open to the atmosphere.

The valve structure in this invention is supported and guided bodily ofl and on to the valve seats and to and from a position at the side of the waterway, by the joint action of a link structure, and a guide or guideway.

The link structure may be of any desired form, may be composed of one or more separate members, and may be located wherever desired, either in the upper air chamber or in the lower chamber, provided it is so supported and located as to assist in giving the required movements to the valve structure. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 this valve structure is shown as composed of a pair of separate links pivotallv mounted in the upper chamber, one at each side of the waterway, while in Fig. 2 the link structure is shown as a single bifur' cated link pivotally mounted in the lower or neutral chamber with the bifurcated portion straddling the waterway.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the air valve is provided with parallel projecting wings 25 provided with laterally extending hubs 26 which are preferably further supported by being formed integral with upstanding portions 27 of the valve structure. These hubs which are in alinernent carry the pivots 28 upon which are pivoted the upper ends of the pair of links which are arranged to straddle the waterway and which are preferably pivoted at their lower ends on pivots 30 mounted in the valve casing. 80

The wings 25, which are preferably symmetrically arranged with, respect to the axis of the valve, support a transverse journal pin 31 upon which is loosely mounted between the wings a grooved roller 32. This grooved roller cooperates with a guidcwaly, preferably in the form of a pair of vertical y separated guides or tracks. The guide 33 is constituted as the upper edge or track of a plate extending outwardly from the waterway at one side thereof and bolted in place upon the inner face of the casing as upon the cover section 9. A similar late 34 is provided above the grooved rol er to cooperate therewith, the plates 33 and 34 being in vertical alinement The shape of the guideway formed by the edges or tracks of the plates 33 and 34 may be as desired. That portion at the inner endtoward the waterway should be and is shown as curved downwardly toward the valve seat. This is for the purpose of insuring that the valve structure shall lift promptly to lift the valves clear of the seats on the opening movement, and return 105 the valves squarely to their seats upon the closing movement. The lower track 33 is shown as straight throughout the major portion of its length and the roller 32 will ride upon this track whenever the valve 110 structure is moved by hand. When the valve opens, the valve structure will rise suddenlv and the roller will ordinarily travel uring the rector portion of the opening movement a ong the track 34. This 116 track may be made of any suitable curvature to insure ample clearance, and thus insure the movement of the valve structure regardless of any corrosion which may take place.

In the operation of the valve of this invention when, as b reason of the opening of a sprinkler hea the air pressure is reduced so that the pressure upon the water valve is sutlicient to lift the water valve from 125 its seat, the entire valve structure rises slightly and then moves bodily laterally entirely to one side of the waterway. In this movement the valve structure is controlled and. guided both by the ooiirdinatcd 130 action of the link structure and the guide or guideway.

The upper pivotal axis of the link structure is shown in Fig. 1 on the same side of the central axis of the waterway as the guideway, but it may be on the opposite side of this axis as shown in Fig. 3. In either case, when the valve is set the air pressure actin on the top of the air valve 18 will keep the roller in contact with the lower track 33 until the air pressure is lowered to a point at which the valve will trip. Thereupon the valve structure will be thrown to bring the roller into contact with the upper track or guide along which it will mainly travel to open position.

During the first portion of the opening movement of the valve structure the valve structure rises, but as the pivot 28 of the link structure reaches its highest position when over the pivot 30 and thereafter be gins to fall, gravity thereafter acts to assist in the opening movement of the valve structure and this action is also aided by the incoming water on the inclined or obliquely placed air valve with respect to the water valve.

The position reached by the valve structure when in open position is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and it will be seen therefrom that the entire valve structure passes to a position entirely at one side of the waterway so that the waterway is left free and unobstructed. It will also be seen that with the valve structure supported and guided as by this invention the valve structure moves accurately and smoothly between its open and closed positions.

The drip valve is shown as a valve member 85 adaptedto coiiperate with a seat 36 formed at the lower end of the chamber 24. This valve member is carried by a stem 37 loosely pivoted at 38 to a latch 39 pivoted at 40 in the chamber. When the air and water valves are closed the upper end 41 of the latch rests above a projection 42 from the air valve and holds the drip valve 35 open so that any leakage past the water valve passes out from the valve casing. As the air and water valves open the projection 42 riding past the end 41 of the latch allows the latch and connected drip valve to fall by gravity and close the opening from the chamber 24. The latch also 0 erates to prevent re-seating of the water an air valve structure after opening because the rojection 42 would strike against the en 41 or the latch should the water and air valves tend to close. The movement of the latch to its lowermost position is limited by the projection 43 coming into engagement with the wall of the casing.

The dry pipe valve illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is of generally the same form and construction as that already described, and

therefore no description is needed save of the features in which it differs from that already described.

In this construction the valve structure, as before, comprises the water valve 44, and the air valve 45. The water valve 44 cooperates with the seat 46 at the top of the cylindrical waterway 47 and the air valve arranged obliquely to the water valve is provided with the flexible annular flap 48 cooperating with the ring shaped seat 49 all as previously described.

In this form the link structure which generally with the guideway supports and guides the valve structure in its movements is shown as a single bifurcated link straddling the waterway and located in the lower or neutral chamber. This link which is shown separately in Fig. 4 is of general U shape presenting the legs 50 provided with bearings 51 at their free or lower ends by means of which they are pivoted at 52 to the casing at each side of the waterway. The central portion of the link is pivoted to the valve structure. In the construction illustrated this is secured by providing the central portion 53 of the link with a pair of projecting bosses 54 between which extends a boss 55 projecting downwardly from the air valve. A pivot pin 56 is passed through these alined bosses.

Fig. 3 also illustrates a variation in the structure of the guideway. The roller 57 which need not be grooved in view of the rigidity of the type of link structure here employed cooperates as before with a pair of plates or track members 58 and 59 vertically alined, projecting outwardly from the waterway, and secured to the casing. In this case the upper member 59 of the guideway is shown as flanged and secured by bolts 60 to the upper wall of the casing cover 61, and in this case the casing cover 61 is shown of angular rather than spherical shape.

The operation of the valve shown in Fig. 3 is the same as that already described in connection with the valve shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the water valve being of less area than the air valve, valve seats therefor, a link structure connecting the valve structure to the casing and a guide between the casing and the valve structure, the said link structure and guide acting together to control the movement of the valve structure as it travels bodily off and on to the-seats and to and from a position at the side of the Waterway.

2. A. dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the water valve being of less area than the air valve, valve seats therefor, a link structure straddling the waterway pivoted to the casing and to the valve structure, a guide secured to the casing and acting to control the movement of the valve structure as it travels bodily off and on to the seats and to and from a position at the side of the waterway.

3. A dry pipe valve comprising the construction defined in claimrl in" which the valve structure is provided with" a roller cooperating with the guide and in which'the guide is secured to the casing and extends outwardly from the waterway at 'one side thereof.

4. A dry pipe valve comprisingthe construction defined in claim 2 in which the valve structure is provided with a roller cooperating with the guide and in which the guide is secured to the casing and extends outwardly from the waterway at one side thereof.

5. A dry pipe valve comprising the construction defined in claim 1 in which the air valve is arranged obliquely to the water valve whereby the action of the incoming water upon the air valve assists in the openmg movement of the valve structure.

A dr ipe valve comprising the construction e ned in claim 2 in which the air valve is arranged obliquely to the water valve whereby the action of the incoming water upon the air valve assists in the opening movement of the valve structure.

A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the Water valve being of less area than the air valve, valve seats therefor, a link structure pivotally connected to the valve structure and to the casing out side of the waterway, a guide projecting from the casing. inwardly toward the.waterway and a roller pivotally mounted on the valve structure and cooperating with the guide to control the move ment of the valve structure and to direct it off and on to the seats and to and from a po sition bodily on the side of the waterway.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

EZRA E. CLA ll K. 

